Guides
How to buy this stuff without getting caught out
The things that cause remakes, refusals and awkward conversations at sale, written plainly.
Aluminium
Aluminium vs uPVC windowsAluminium against uPVC on frame width, thermal performance, lifespan, colour and cost — and when uPVC is the rational choice.Aluminium vs timber windowsAluminium against timber on maintenance, lifespan, heritage suitability and cost — including where a conservation officer will accept aluminium.Are aluminium windows worth it?Whether aluminium windows justify the 25–50% premium over uPVC, when they clearly do, and when they clearly do not.Condensation on aluminium windowsWhy aluminium windows get condensation, what old non-thermally-broken frames did, and how to read which side of the glass it is on.What is a thermal break?What a thermal break is, why aluminium windows need one, and why pre-1990s aluminium frames streamed with condensation.How long do aluminium windows last?Aluminium windows typically last 30–50 years with a 25-year finish guarantee. What actually fails first, and what shortens it.Do replacement windows need trickle vents?Whether your replacement windows need trickle vents under Part F, the equivalent area required, and why retrofitting is worse than specifying.Do you need planning permission to replace windows?When you need planning permission to replace windows: conservation areas, Article 4 directions, listed buildings and flats.FENSA, CERTASS and Assure certificates explainedWhat a FENSA certificate actually is, how CERTASS and Assure are equivalent, and what happens if your installer is not registered.Window U-values and Part LWhat U-value replacement windows must achieve under Part L, why whole-window figures differ from centre-pane, and what actually moves the number.
Buying supply only
Supply only vs supplied and fittedWhat you take on when you buy windows and doors supply only, what you save, and when paying for fitting is the cheaper answer.How to measureMeasure the structural opening, not the old frame. The method, the three-point rule, and the mistakes that cause remakes.Lead times, honestlyWhat the industry's standard 8–12 week window and door lead time is actually made of, and which parts we cut out.Building regulations on a supply-only orderReplacement windows are notifiable work. Who certifies them on a supply-only order, what it costs, and why it matters when you sell.Composite vs uPVC doorsWhere composite genuinely beats uPVC, where the difference does not justify the money, and what actually determines security.Door and window security standardsWhat PAS 24 tests, how the TS007 star rating works, and the cylinder and handle combination that resists snapping.
Ranges in this family
Aluminium vs timber windowsAluminium vs uPVC windowsAre aluminium windows worth it?Building regulations on a supply-only orderComposite vs uPVC doorsCondensation on aluminium windowsDo replacement windows need trickle vents?Do you need planning permission to replace windows?Door and window security standardsFENSA, CERTASS and Assure certificates explainedHow long do aluminium windows last?How to measureLead times, honestlySupply only vs supplied and fittedU-values and Part LWhat is a thermal break?